I read in silence until I heard a voice. "I knew you would be here" Edmund said quietly.

Silence

"You can't ignore me forever". "I can try" I said, slamming the book shut. "Why did you go?". I didn't say anything. "Was it because I was going to kiss you?". Now I know he definitely was going to kiss me. "Well whatever it is just say it" he said, losing patience. "I don't know". "It was just strange. One minute we're best friends. The next minute you tried to kiss me". "And what is wrong with doing that to your female best friend?". "I...".

"Are you saying you didn't want me to kiss you?". I didn't answer. "Is there someone else?" he said with pain with each word. "No! Of course not!" I interjected. "Then why!?" he temper rising. "Why. WHY! You're asking me why!?" we were both on our feet standing a few yards away from each other. "You're the one that tried to kiss me! What was going on in that head of yours at that time!". "What was going on with ME! I was thinking:Autumn is my best friend,someone wonderful! I COULDN'T HELP IT" he yelled. "YES YOU COULD HAVE! AND WITH THE WAY THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING I CERTAINLY HAVE CHANGED MY THOUGHTS TOWARDS YOU!" I yell. "FINE". I walked the opposite direction. "Great now my best friend is turning into a pervert" I said mumbled to myself. My senses jerked. I turned around and caught the book that was suppose to be aimed for my back. Edmund looked at me with cold eyes.

I lost it. I let out a scream/yell and the candles instantly blew out.

*Edmund's POV*

It was dark. The candles were blown out. I quickly found a candle and a match and I lighted it and held it high so that I could see more. Autumn was gone. The window was wide open letting the moonlight in. She'll cool off and she'll be fine my tomorrow. The next morning she'll be jumping on me telling me to get up for dawn patrol. I thought this as I walked back to my room.

*The Next Morning*

"Ed wake up!" it wasn't Autumn's voice. I threw the covers off my head and looked around the room. Sunlight was pouring in from the window. It was Lucy who woke me up. "Why weren't you up. We all thought you were late coming back from dawn patrol. But then I walked down the hall and I heard snoring from your room" she explained. "I missed dawn patrol?". "It's 10:30 Edmund of course you missed dawn patrol". "Have you seen Autumn?" I asked her. She shrugged. It was hard to keep tabs on a bold,winged protector.

Got dressed and stomped down to Autumn's door. I kicked open the doors.

It was empty no one was there. I looked around. Her shoulder bag,spell book,and sword were gone. I went over to her bed and found a letter on the sheets. It had her seal on it. I broke it open and read it.

To the Pevensies,

I'm sorry about having to leave so suddenly but I have to leave for personal reasons. Chrismo has been told of my location but I told him not to tell so don't try and pressure him into telling. I don't know when I'll be back. Forever is a far stretch. They don't call me "The Loyal" for nothing. I am perfectly fine. I won't be gone too long but only time will tell. I implore you not to stop your daily lives on my account and please don't go looking for me.

Signed,

Autumn Phoenix

Great my best friend is gone because of me. Great job Ed!

"Autumn? Are you in here? Oh Edmund" I turned around to see Lucy and Susan. "What's that Ed?" Lucy asked, pointing towards the letter in my hand. I handed it to her and left before they could say anything. I need to find Chrismo. I was outside and I saw the hint of red/orange hair. "Chrismo" I called. He stopped and looked at me "I'm not going to tell you where she is and she says if you dare and pressure me, she'll deep fry you from where she is" Chrismo said, his fur bristling. " I'm not going to pressure you. It's your choice to tell, but I just want you to know I would really appreciate it if you told me. She's my best friend and...it's my fault she's gone". Chrismo looked at me for a while and then sighed. " You really do care about her. She would sizzle me alive if she found out I told of her location". " I won't let that happen". I'm sure I couldn't stop her but I could try. "For your sake, I will tell you. She went to the Western Wood. In a cave behind a waterfall". " Which waterfall? ". " I will show you".

I rode swiftly through the trees with Chrismo running along side Philp.

I heard rushing water. "We're here". " Now what?". " She's your best friend" Chrismo pointed out. I had an idea. "You two stay here and no matter what don't come unless I call you". They hesitated but nodded their heads.

I went to the river that the waterfall made. I had to lure Autumn out. She wouldn't come willing but if I was in danger, she wouldn't be able to resist. " It's all my fault" I moaned. " I shouldn't have done that to her. I can't live with it anymore". Just one more thing. I pulled the sword from my scabbard and angled it so that I was aiming at my heart. I raised it like I I was about to end my life.

I was just about to deliver the fake blow unrtil something knocked me off my feet. A foot was planted on my chest and I looked up.

Autumn

That worked. "I swear Ed if you even think about drawing your own blood you won't have to worry about killing yourself because I would do it for you". Well this is a nice howy do.

"Why are you trying to commit suicide here in your woods?". " Funny story really. I was actually looking for you". " You weren't looking you already knew where I was because Chrismo told you. Chrismo and Philp are a little ways away in the woods and you so called decided to do suicide so yo could lure me out so that you could talk to me. Well the answer is no" she stated firmly. " Now hang on". She finally released me from being trapped under her foot , which kind of hurt my chest.

* Autumn's POV *

I really wanted to forgive Edmund and go back home but another part of me was wanting to play hard to get. Forgiving ment that I would be stuck between the friend zone and the other zone. Hard to get was a rough game to play. "Now if you'll just listen to me maybe I can explain myself" Edmund said. "Go on" I wanted to see just what 'Mr. Book thrower' had to say. Yes I still never got over him throwing a 135 chapter book at me.

"I'm sorry for getting mad at you. I understand that you were unsure of my intentions and confused by my outwards feelings towards my best friend. You did want to end our friendship by turning it into a strange relationship and I hope that you can forgive me" he looked deeply into my eyes.

His warm brown eyes that always comforted me and...wait what am I thinking! Blah! " Sooo". " I accept your apology. I also wanted you to forgive me if I reacted to rashly" the last part I disagreed with. I wasn't acting rash it was his crazy...you know what this is going no where. " That's alright" he said, grinning a lopsided grin. It was kind of cute really...oh stupid hormones!

"My lady, your majesty! " Chrismo cried, running to us wih Philp behind him. "What is it?!".

" Bandits"